Special force needed at Allahabad Station: AIRF gen secretary

New Delhi: The overall arrangement at Allahabad railway station was found wanting as special forces should have been deployed to tackle the unprecedented rush, the All-India Railwaymen's Federation said today.

"Special forces like RAF, BSF or RPSF personnel should have been deployed at the station to tackle the huge rush on the day of holy bath yesterday," AIRF general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra, who was at the Kumbh fair yesterday, said.

Reuters

"These forces are specifically trained to handle such kind of unprecedented situation."

He said the rush of pilgrims was unprecedented and the organisers would not have thought that the number of passengers would be so high.

"Though several special trains were pressed into service, the surging of crowd was unprecedented," he said, adding the focus now should be to ensure proper arrangement to tackle incoming holy baths.

Holy baths at Kumbh fair are slated to be held on February 15 and 25 and also in March.